Xbox 360 Supply Chain Case Study Essay

1.) What supply chain changes did Microsoft make between the Xbox and the Xbox 360? What was the motivation for these changes? When Microsoft first entered the market with the release of the Xbox in 2001 it was a newcomer in the console business. The company had neither an established brand presence in this area, nor did it have a developed base of games and gamers in the market, such as Sony. Therefore, the primary purpose of introducing the Xbox was to establish Microsoft in the market, to develop a brand presence, gain acceptance among gamers and to prepare the way for future products. Therefore, Microsoft’s…show more content…

In contrast to the first Xbox, the Xbox 360 was produced entirely within China in order to benefit from low labor cost and to reduce overall manufacturing cost. Once the consoles were produced, they were shipped to North America, Europe and Japan. Additionally, Flextronics and Wistron were involved in the design process to optimize the product design and its production processes. Concerning the critical parts (graphics chip and microprocessor) Microsoft contracted with chip companies so that it owned the design of the chips and would be able to go to any contract chip manufacturer in order to continually reduce costs. As Intel and Nvidia resisted this approach, Microsoft signed up with IBM to design the processor chip and with ATI to design a unique graphics chip for the Xbox 360. Furthermore, Microsoft outsourced the design of the Xbox360 to Astro Studios which developed a small, elegant console. This change was triggered by the fact that the design of the initial Xbox, which was performed in-house, had been criticized by gamers for its unattractive appearance and bulky controller, resulting in decreased sales especially in Japan. In short, Microsoft altered its supply chain from focusing on reliably supply and high service level to cutting costs. The new strategy was supported by moving

FILLING
JOBS
WISELY
How companies use
Talent Supply Chain
Management to link
human capital to
business needs.
By DOUG ARMS AND TONY BERCIK
ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT PIZZO/WWW.ROBERTPIZZO.COM
June 2015 / STRATEGIC FINANCE / 39
W
hat do building an airplane
and finding finance and
accounting talent have in
common?
In the case of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, more than you’d
imagine. Boeing uses more than 1,000 suppliers to deliver
this airplane’s specific parts—a number that’s so high because the company…

them. Talking to girls and hanging out with them makes me very happy. Girls can hurt you sometimes but they can also make you happy.
Xbox 360
I love playing Xbox 360 when I have nothing else to do it gives me something fun to do. There are many different games to play and you can play them online with your friends. Call of Duty is my favorite game. The Xbox 360 is something I’m thankful for someone creating. Video games are very fun.…

Supply Chain Management in Hospital: A Case Study
Samuel Toba • Mary Tomasini • Y. Helio Yang
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
It is a common misunderstanding that hospital purchasing is just a functional part of operations rather than a strategic means to achieve financial cost savings. The supply chain process is the essential link for all programs and services offered by a hospital, and hence any improvement in managing the supply chain can positively impact bottom line profitability…

Coursework Header Sheet186714-156
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Course | BUSI1150: E-Log & Int Sup Chain Mgt 15c | Course School/Level | BU/PG |
Coursework | Research Report | Assessment Weight | 70.00% |
Tutor | Y Lin | Submission Deadline | 30/03/2012 |
Coursework is receipted on the understanding that it is the student's own work and that it has not, in whole or part, been presented elsewhere for assessment. Where material has been used from other sources it has been properly acknowledged…

Test Questions Sessions 1-9
* What is a supply chain?
The interconnected businesses that convert raw materials into consumer products via the transfer of materials, information and cash.
* Draw a hypothetical milk supply chain
* What is supply chain management?
The management of upstream and downstream suppliers working together to create high value products for consumers as efficiently as possible to the benefit of the whole supply chain. It operates on three different levels, Strategic…